Who is the best child custody lawyer in Alabama?

Who is the best child custody lawyer in Alabama?

Top Birmingham Child Custody Lawyers – AlabamaThe Merrell Law Firm, LLC. Child Custody Lawyers in Birmingham, AL. Vella & King Attorneys AT Law. Child Custody Lawyers Serving Birmingham, AL (Mountain Brook, AL) Gossman Law Firm, LLC. Child Custody Lawyers Serving Birmingham, AL (Hoover, AL)

Do family law attorneys handle divorce?

Family lawyers are legal professionals that specialize in matters to do with family law. They handle legal issues that are concerned with members of the family. Such legal issues include divorce, child custody, and guardianship among others. Family lawyers can act as mediators when family disagreements develop.

Should I hire a lawyer for child custody?

You do not need to have an attorney for a custody dispute in most states. Representing yourself in court is your right and can have pros and cons. The obvious pro is that you will save money on legal fees. However, going to court generally means the parents cannot find a solution.

How a mother can lose a custody battle?

If a mother, or a father, is determined to be unfit, they will lose custody of their child. More specifically, a parent may be deemed unfit if he or she has been abusive, neglectful, or failed to provide proper care for the child. …

What should you not do during custody battle?

9 Things to Avoid During Your Custody BattleAVOID VERBAL ALTERCATIONS WITH EX-SPOUSE AND/OR CHILDREN. AVOID PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION WITH EX-SPOUSE AND/OR CHILDREN. AVOID EXPOSING YOUR CHILDREN TO NEW PARTNERS. AVOID CRITICIZING THE OTHER PARENT TO LEGAL PARTIES, FAMILY, OR FRIENDS. AVOID NEGLECTING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS AND/OR AGREED UPON PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

What do judges look at when deciding custody?

Judges must decide custody based on “the best interests of the child.” The “best interests of the child” law requires courts to focus on the child’s needs and not the parent’s needs. The law requires courts to give custody to the parent who can meet the child’s needs best .

How a father can win a custody battle?

1. Try to Negotiate – Before going to court for a lengthy and expensive custody battle, fathers will want to consider sitting down with the mother of the child and trying to negotiate a parenting agreement or parenting plan (also known as a custody judgment in some states).

Who is more likely to win a custody battle?

Without a doubt, courts here in Texas and across the country once favored keeping kids with their mothers. Even under questionable circumstances, family courts used to believe that children were better off with their mothers than with their fathers full time.

What percent of fathers win custody?

Nationwide, a father is likely to receive about 35% of child custody time.

Do mothers have more rights than fathers?

Although many people assume that moms have more child custody rights than dads, the truth is, U.S. custody laws don’t give mothers an edge in custody proceedings. However, the fact is that no custody laws in the U.S. give mothers a preference or additional rights to custody of their children.

Why do mothers get custody over father?

Another factor courts use in making custody determination is the relationship between parent and child. Mothers are more likely to take more time off work or stay home entirely with their child than fathers. As a result, young children tend to look to their moms first for basic daily needs and emotional support.

Can a father stop the mother from moving?

Stopping a custodial parent from moving away with your child usually requires invoking the court with appropriate jurisdiction over your case. You will likely need to file a motion arguing that the move constitutes a material change of circumstances and/or that the move away is not in the child’s best interests.

Do family courts Favour mothers?

The laws on custody and support are gender neutral. If mothers get custody more often, it is because they are more often the primary caregivers and the court will always favour the best interests of the child. In 51 percent of custody cases, both parents agreed — on their own — that mom become the custodial parent.

Do judges side with mothers?

Judges have guidelines used to determine what is in the best interest of the children. The gender of the parent plays no part in their decision. Today’s “knowledge” that courts prefer mothers stems from past generations and media sensationalism.

Do mothers usually get primary custody?

Many mothers receive full or primary custody of their children. The child has a right to be cared for by their parents, and this includes financial support, and both parents retain this responsibility when they separate.

What age can a child say who they want to live with?

There is a common misconception that in Family Law parenting disputes about with whom a child will live, a child will have the deciding vote when they reach the age of 12. This is not the case.

Can a 14 year old be forced to visit a parent?

Most judges understand that once a child reaches their teens (14 /15 /16 /17), it certainly is difficult to force them to visit with a noncustodial parent when they are adamant about not seeing them, but it truly is not the child’s decision.

Can a 10 year old choose which parent to live with?

There is no fixed age when a child can decide on where they should live in a parenting dispute. Instead their wishes are one of many factors a court will consider in reaching a decision.